Retirement watch: Boehner buys condo in Florida

posted at 6:01 pm on February 19, 2014 by Allahpundit

A tantalizing scoop from Jonathan Strong. There’s no material more crowd-pleasing on a righty blog than a post about a big-name establishment Republican possibly retiring. And in the hierarchy of establishment Republicans whom conservatives would like to see go (and who might actually be considering it), there’s only one name bigger than Boehner’s.

The day McCain announces he’s not running again is going to be a de facto national holiday for tea partiers, isn’t it?

“This area of Florida has been the Boehners’ family vacation spot for many years, and rather than continue to put money into vacation rentals year after year, they decided to buy a condo. Their home is in West Chester, Ohio, and will continue to be,” Michael Steel, Boehner’s spokesman said…

Boehner shared the happy news he had just closed on a place to colleagues at the National Republican Congressional Committee’s recent winter meeting in Sarasota, prompting gossip among GOP lawmakers about what it might mean for his future.

Buying a new place is a more significant act for the relatively modest Boehner than other top congressional leaders.

More significant, yes, but if he has reason to think he’ll be earning big money soon as a lobbyist, a new condo is no sweat.

Rumors that he’s quitting after this session have been kicking around since last year, and Strong makes a good point in noting that Boehner’s been more aggressive in challenging the right wing of his caucus lately. That’s not how a man who’s worried about winning the next House election for Speaker would normally behave. Two questions, though. First, if he’s planning to head off into the sunset, why did he seem to step away from amnesty lately? Could be that he’s simply biding his time and will return to it soon at an opportune moment, possibly after Obama makes a few concessions on other business that Boehner’s interested in, but the centrists in the caucus are going to need bold leadership to get them to cross the aisle on this so soon before the midterms. Boehner hasn’t seemed bold lately. If he’s keen to pass major legislation before he retires (as has often been said about him vis-a-vis a “grand bargain” on deficit reduction), amnesty’s probably his last shot. No sense wasting time if he’s preparing to step down.

Second, if he is planning to retire, why not announce it soon? There are rumors that Pelosi might retire too given that a few of her chief deputies, Henry Waxman foremost among them, are finally quitting after decades in the House. But Pelosi has an obvious interest in keeping quiet about it: If she quits before the midterms, it’ll be taken as a sign that leadership has given up on retaking the majority in the fall, which will bruise Democratic morale. And Pelosi’s no ordinary leader, either; she was the Speaker who got ObamaCare through the House. If she quits with the GOP poised to make further gains in Congress because of the O-Care implementation debacle, it’ll feel like she’s conceding that her big “achievement” has been a total political loser. None of that is true for Boehner. If anything, him quitting would boost morale among grassroots conservatives, who’d sense an opportunity to steer the caucus further to the right by electing a new slate of tea partiers this fall. And GOP centrists could console themselves with the fact that none of Boehner’s potential successors — Cantor, McCarthy, Ryan — are hardline tea partiers themselves. In fact, the only reason I can think of why Boehner would keep this hush-hush is because it might ignite the conservative base. If he wants to bequeath a centrist-ish GOP caucus to the next Speaker, lying low until the lame-duck session is probably his best move.

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In fact, the only reason I can think of why Boehner would keep this hush-hush is because it might ignite the conservative base. If he wants to bequeath a centrist-ish GOP caucus to the next Speaker, lying low until the lame-duck session is probably his best move.

Good riddance. Maybe he sees the writing on the wall that even if he wins re election enough Conservatives will also win and doom his chances of being Speaker again.

The downside, of course, is that he will follow the well established path of jilted establishment RINOS and make the rest of his speakership as DAMAGING AS POSSIBLE to conservatives, including passing Amnesty with Democrats.

Allah I am always perplexed as to why you refer Obamacare as an “implementation” problem or debacle? The problem with Obamacare is not in the implementation it is the “law” itself. If the implementation would have been great including a working website, it would have not changed the fact that the premiums are unfordable, deductables are to high,and you can’t keep your doctor. The democrats always spin it as an implemenation problem when the law is completly flawed and unworkable.

Allah I am always perplexed as to why you refer Obamacare as an “implementation” problem or debacle? The problem with Obamacare is not in the implementation it is the “law” itself. If the implementation would have been great including a working website, it would have not changed the fact that the premiums are unfordable, deductables are to high,and you can’t keep your doctor. The democrats always spin it as an implemenation problem when the law is completly flawed and unworkable.

WilsonReagan on February 19, 2014 at 6:14 PM

Democrats NEVER admit policy failure, any more than Obama would own up to stealing his mommy’s panties to wear to school instead of blaming non existent siblings.

Boehner will pass Amnesty before he rides into sunset for two reasons:

1. GOP Establishment seriously believe that they cannot send the 2016 nominee into general election battle with immigration reform baggage. Right or wrong they believe this and would like the nominee have this handicap.

2. The Corporate Welfare firms have Boehner’s ear and he will do them one big last favor before he takes up a sweet lobbying gig with one of the Corporate Welfare firms. Then Boehner will be set for life.

2. The Corporate Welfare firms have Boehner’s ear and he will do them one big last favor before he takes up a sweet lobbying gig with one of the Corporate Welfare firms. Then Boehner will be set for life.

Might_Is_Right on February 19, 2014 at 6:30 PM

This most likely.

Passing amnesty is the END of his Speakership for sure and probably his seat in Congress. Even if conservatives have to pull an ACORN and go vote in his District for his Democrat opponent (and I would be angry enough to ADVOCATE THIS!). There is no question he’s being offered the most GOLDEN of GOLDEN PARACHUTES by the anti-American Corporatists to make this non sacrifice.

I have to laugh that Politico’s version of this article claims that Marco Island is a “tony” vacation town in southern Florida. Tony? LOL It ain’t no Martha’s Vineyard. Neither is a $835,000 condo on an east or west coast in Florida…that’s nice but not tony.

Oops. Apparently, he meant the Sarasota area. Probably Siesta Key. I put my time in for 30 yrs in the Manatee/Sarasota areas. Left the sandbar within 30 seconds of retirement. The West Coast is an extension of Michigan, Illinois and Ohio, et al. The East Coast belongs to monied Dems from the NE. Florida doesn’t exist south of Gainesville, except around the Lake.

Be it Marco Island, Sarasota or Siesta Key….for the West Coast…they are pretty pricey. I must add that Siesta Key is my absolute favorite beach. Naples and Annabella Island on the West Coast are also favored…

Be it Marco Island, Sarasota or Siesta Key….for the West Coast…they are pretty pricey. I must add that Siesta Key is my absolute favorite beach. Naples and Annabella Island on the West Coast are also favored…

CoffeeLover on February 19, 2014 at 6:53 PM

When it comes to beauty, all the West Coast beaches are heads and shoulders above the East Coast imo. I fell in love with Sanibel Island the moment I laid eyes on it. But I wouldn’t live there because the surrounding area is too over crowded. I prefer the Horse Country area of Ocala, which is just a short drive NE of where I am now.

When it comes to beauty, all the West Coast beaches are heads and shoulders above the East Coast imo. I fell in love with Sanibel Island the moment I laid eyes on it. But I wouldn’t live there because the surrounding area is too over crowded. I prefer the Horse Country area of Ocala, which is just a short drive NE of where I am now.

Boehner obviously sees the handwriting on the wall with the American Public. He has lined-up his pay day with the corporatist. As many American Presidents do, they do their earth shattering pardons on the way out the door. It reminds me of when Clinton pardoned Mark Rich under the recommendation of the current AG, Holder, except what Boehner will be releasing will be bigger. Even bigger than what Eric Snowden has done. It will be the equivalent of dropping the Human Nuclear Bomb on American Society. He is the last stop between the Senate and Obama.

As much as I want to see McConnell go, McCain go and others – if Boehner isn’t stopped before he has the chance to pull the vote on Amnesty, it is over. Open season on our borders will begin from all over the world.

If this happens you matters well change your status to illegal immigrant because you will have more rights and the benefits will be better . . . for as long as they last.